Artillery Shell 01 | Voice

[range]

...Y'know, this isn't exactly the way to welcome new people. With other people gettin' killed.

[The sound of a match striking is heard.]

Does that sort of thing happen often 'round these parts?

Comments

[range]

So I've been hearin'. Which is pretty worryin' all on it's own.

...Yeah, I dunno 'bout that.

[golden_witch]

It's worrying, but it's probably just someone trying to make things interesting.
They just chose a poor way of doing it.

[range]

I woulda pinned keepin' people alive would be more interestin'. But what do I know?

[golden_witch]

The people here are interesting enough when riled up properly.
I see no need to kill them. Of course, that's just me.~

[range]

Nah, I'm thinkin' the same thing. It's pretty basic, ain't it?

[golden_witch]

I'm thinking this is someone who isn't afraid to be caught.

There is no general pattern in victim.

Therefore, they are just trying to liven up their own lives.

But to those who see through it, it is boring. That's all.

[range]

It certainly ain't someone who's afraid of gettin' caught.

They get to enjoy their time and the worst they're gonna get is death, probably. And after all the murderin', dyin' might not be such a horrible thing for them.

[golden_witch]

No, but they wouldn't mind terribly if they were caught. Almost as though they want to take credit, but it would ruin the fun.

And yes, I see what you mean. The death penalty doesn't mean much if you come right back.

The only way to avoid it, would be to continually kill them after each resurrection, lock them up indefinitely, or maim them so that they think twice about taking another life.

Though I don't know how willing anyone would be to implement any of those things.

[range]

That is true. Gettin' caught would mean they'd hafta stop at all.

...Wait, they come back? How so?

...Guess that's true. It ain't gonna be me. I don't like killin' people. And I don't wanna know 'bout it. Hopefully they learn and just stop doin' it.

[golden_witch]

An odd mix, indeed.

And death is impermanent, here. You die for a bit and return.

It's lengthy and bothersome.

And I have killed before, but that was when I had the power to immediately bring them back.

There's no sport in killing someone if you have to wait a week to laugh at them.

[range]

That's... a lil' bit of a waste. Good thing but... why let anyone die at all then?

...There shouldn't be a sport to killin' anyone period. Deal isn't somethin' to be toyin' 'round with. It's a serious thing.

[golden_witch]

That's why I haven't bothered, to be honest.

And death can be serious when it cannot be conquered.

But if you have the ability to fix the things you break, nothing is so serious.

[range]

...That's why ya haven't? ...Interestin'.

So once you can fix it, it ain't broke and it ain't so serious, is what you're gettin' at.

[golden_witch]

Precisely.

Doesn't that make perfect sense to you~?

[range]

Yeah, of course it does. Be ridiculous if it I didn't.

[golden_witch]

At least you're reasonable. Some people get touchy about the subject.

Really touchy.

[range]

Well, it's death. It ain't exactly a subject ya should joke 'round with.

[golden_witch]

And why not? Just because it's taboo doesn't make it less of an inevitability. Every mortal dies at some point.

[range]

It ain't so much taboo as it is... not right. Everyone dies, yeah. Doesn't mean anyone should laugh at it or speed up the process.

[golden_witch]

If you stop laughing at death, you begin to fear it.
That fear is what makes death a taboo. That's what gives it power.

If I die tomorrow. And I know it is for good. I will die with a giggle on my lips. Because I refuse to let it reign over me.

[range]

I don't fear death. I ain't gonna give that power. But I ain't gonna laugh either. Don't let death go on my mind too much.

Why give it any notice at all?

[golden_witch]

It's as much a part of life as breathing. Ignoring something doesn't make it go away.

It is worthy of notice, not fear.

[range]

Ain't that a delicious piece of irony. Dyin' is a big part of livin'.

[golden_witch]

Life itself is a delicious piece of irony, if you ask me.

But I suppose if you recognize it for what it is, it takes some of the edge off.

[range]

I'd sure as hell hope it is, otherwise this is a hellish kinda good life.

And ain't that the truth.